"The one that started it all...."

Mortal Kombat... one of the greatest fighting games ever made. Created by Ed Boon and John Tobias. With only 4 people on the project (not counting the stand-ins) they were able to create this game that revolutionized the genre of fighting games.

Mortal Kombat was a Shaolin tournament held for honor. The evil sorcerer Shang Tsung won the tournament one year. Every victory Shang Tsung made created an unbalance with the realms. If Earthrelm weakened enough the Emperor of Outworld, Shao Kahn (Shang Tsung\'s ruler) would be able to invade Earthrelm. One day a man named Kung Lao was able to defeat Shang Tsung. Kahn was enraged then took away Shang Tsung\'s youth. Shang Tsung devised another plan. He acquired the help of the Shokan Prince, Goro, and used him to participate in the tournament. Goro killed Kung Lao and remained the reigning champion for 500 years. With only one victory away from the entrance to Earthrelm by Outworld, a young warrior named Liu Kang decides to join the tournament. Other warriors include: Sub-Zero (a member of the Lin Kuei hired to assassinate Shang Tsung), Scorpion (the specter form of a man Sub-Zero killed 2 years ago), Kano (a criminal who heard about the riches of Shang Tsung), Sonya Blade (the Special Forces agent out to catch Kano), and Johnny Cage (a movie star who joined the tournament to prove that his abilities arent camera tricks and special effects). Shang Tsung\'s bodyguard Reptile has been rumored to be around also.

Each playable character has their own little introduction. Once you beat the game you view a little ending. Each character has different endings. You basically choose a fighter and then you fight the other warriors until you climb up all the way to the top and fight Goro and Shang Tsung.

The controls are simple and very easy to learn. This game revolutionized fighting games due to blood and a thing called Fatalities. Once you beat your opponent you have a chance to perform a special move that will end with you desecrating you opponent in a way.

This game is very old and very cheap if you happen to find it anywhere. Sure this game doesnt match up to the 3D graphics of newer fighting games, this game remains a classic. Overall Mortal Kombat is a great game. Looks more realistic than the Stree Fighter series, offers a better storyline, and of course everyone\'s favorite... blood!